Judge: Disney can't bar cab drivers, for now

Nov. 17, 2010

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Dozens of "A" taxis were parked along W. Convention Way during a taxi driver protest at the Anaheim Hilton. in October. Now the cab drivers are taking the hotels and Disney to court to ask a judge to allow them to pick up fares until legal issues are sorted out. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Taxi-drives protest, claiming that Anaheim Hilton and Marriott hotels aren't allowing them to pick up fares. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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About two dozen taxi drivers marched in protest outside the Anaheim Hilton in October. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The protesters claim that while three cab companies hold franchises in the Anaheim Resort area, only Anaheim Yellow Cab Co. is being allowed to pick up guests in front of the Hilton and Marriott hotels. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Dozens of "A" taxis were parked along W. Convention Way during a taxi driver protest at the Anaheim Hilton. in October. Now the cab drivers are taking the hotels and Disney to court to ask a judge to allow them to pick up fares until legal issues are sorted out. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – Taxi drivers upset that two major Anaheim hotels prohibit them from picking up fares and that Disney properties were about to do the same won a temporary reprieve Wednesday after asking a judge to intervene.

Superior Court Judge James Di Cesare granted a temporary restraining order until he hears arguments claiming that Disney and the hotels are creating a monopoly by favoring one cab company.

The order will allow all three cab companies licensed in Anaheim to continue picking up fares at Disney properties, including Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney and three hotels.

No change was ordered at Anaheim's Hilton and Marriott hotels, which already do business with just one company – Yellow Cab of Greater Orange County.

The same company had been scheduled to take over as the "preferred" operator for Disney on Thursday morning.

The court order is in effect until at least Dec. 9, when the judge is scheduled to hear arguments.

"This is a partial victory," said a relieved Salomon Kebede, a cab driver for A-Taxi who led earlier cab-driver protests. "But it can't stop here. Drivers are suffering and we need help."

About a dozen taxi drivers – and an attorney – unsuccessfully urged the Anaheim City Council Tuesday night to help them regain access to the Hilton and Marriott and to prevent Disney from working with just one cab company.

The cab drivers told the council Tuesday that the majority of their business comes from the resort district and if they are not allowed to pick up fares there, they will likely go out of business.

While three cab companies are licensed by Anaheim, the two hotels and Disney have said they only want one company – Yellow Cab of Greater Orange County, a TecTrans company – to be their preferred provider.

Other cab companies would be called only in times of heavy demand.

The Hilton and Marriott have used the same company as their preferred operator since February and July, respectively.

Disney had intended to do the same beginning at 5 a.m. Thursday.

The city license costs each driver $50 per week. Drivers said that because of that agreement, the city should intervene on their behalf.

"It is unfair," said cab driver Mark Wurtzbacher, with California Yellow Cab since 2007. "We are here to provide a service to the people. And (if Disney prevails) we won't be able to ... We may be out of a job."

Mayor Curt Pringle told the taxi drivers that the city is powerless on the issue.

"I understand the frustration," Pringle told the taxi drivers. "(But) there is nothing in our city laws that say that private property owners must have your cabs on their property."

A Disney official acknowledged Wednesday that the Disney properties in the resort district have plans to begin working primarily with Yellow Cab of Greater Orange County – if and when the judge allows.

"Our intention is to provide our Disneyland Resort guests with the best possible experience," Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said in a statement. "After reviewing proposals from several companies, we selected Yellow Cab of Greater Orange County to provide taxicab services to the Disneyland Resort."

Brown said Disney officials were impressed because of the cab company's long history in Anaheim and because it is committed to using green technology with more than 75 percent of its cabs running on natural compressed gas.

Officials with Yellow Cab of Greater Orange County say they are not paying money to the hotels or Disney to be the preferred operator; instead, they are getting the business because they guarantee a high-level of service, clean cabs and polite service.

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